Power operating means for opening and closing hatch covers



Sept. 13, i966 G. STRANSKY 3,272,255

POWER OPERATING MEANS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING HATCH COVERS Filed Aprill2. 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 i: vul- L CN COW Q\ c:N OO nn D\. 3"

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POWER OPERATING MEANS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING HATCH COVERS Filed Aprill2, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 z (o), r t:

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POWER OPERATING MEANS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING HATCH COVERS Filed Aprill2. 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept 3 i956 G. sTRANsKY 3,272,255

POWER OPERATING MEANS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING HATCH COVERS Filed Aprill2. 1954 v 4 SheetS-Sheeh 4 United States Patent O 3,272,255 POWEROPERATING MEANS FR OPENING AND CLSING HATCH COVERS Gustave Stransky, NewYork, NY., assignor, by mesne assignments, to MacGregor 8: Company(Naval Architects) Ltd., Whitley Bay, Monkseaton (Northumberland),England Filed Apr. 12, 1954, Ser. No. 422,470

17 Claims. (Cl. 160-188) The present invention relates broadly to theart of closures and more particularly it relates to power operatingmeans for opening and closing the same.

Still more particularly, this invention is concerned wi-th improvementsin hatch cover or door arrangement for vessels and for improved poweroperating means for opening and closing the same.

Closures particularly of the folding type usually require expenditure ofconsiderable energy for moving the same between open and closedpositions.

Accordingly, this invention provi-des an improved power operating meansfor expeditiously opening and closing doors and hatch covers of thefolding type.

From a broad standpoint, the invention has for an object to provide animproved fluid operated mechanism for opening and closing foldedclosures such as doors, hatch covers or any other arrangementincorporating one or more connected pairs of closure panels.

It is a further object to provide an improved fluid operated mechanismfor opening and closing folding closures which includes a linkageassembly connected with each of a pair of closure members at the edgesthereof that are hingedly interconnected and which assembly is coupledwith dluid motor means whereby actuation of the latter through theassembly moves the closures between open and closed positions.

As an additional and specific object, the present invention provides ahatch cover arrangement of the folding type including fluid operatedmechanism for opening and closing the same and which mechanism ismounted beneath the cover and includes a novel linkage system embodiedwith the cover sections :with each pair of cover sections that areh-ingedly interconnected and which system includes independent linkagemeans pivotally connected to adjacent edges of the adjacent sections andpivotally connected to each other and means piv-otally connecting fluidmotor means tothe interconnected linkage means.

From a broader standpoint, the invention has for an object to pro-vide aclosure opera-ting mechanism for a folded closure including a pair ofcontiguous adjacent panels, vhinge means mounting one panel relative toan opening, hinge means connecting the opposite edge of said panel tothe adjacent edge of the other panel, with the opposite edge of the saidother panel being guided in the conhguration of the opening, linkagemeans pivotally connected to the adjacent edges of each panel and toeach other, reciprocable means pivotally mounted to the said one paneland including an element pivotally mounted to the interconnected linkagemeans whereby selected movement of the element toward or away from thesaid edge of the opening respectively folds the panels 4together andmoves the same .to an open position or unfolds the panels relative toone another and moves the same to a closed position.

Further and more specic objects will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection |with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE l is a -top plan View of a hatch cover arrangement embodying thepower operated means of the invention.

ice

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational Aview of the arrangement shown in FIGURE1,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View taken along lines 3 3 of FIGURE l,

FIGU-RIE 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view illustrating a pair ofcover sections in open and closed positions and in intermediatepositions,

FIGURE 5 is a plan view Iwith the top plates of the cover sectionsremoved illustrating the link and lever connection embodied in FIGURE 4.

While the drawings disclose and the description refers to a hatch coverarrangement of the folding type embodying four coverl sections connectedin oppositely moving pairs of sections for swinging motion relative toopposite edges of a hatch opening, it is to be understood that theinvention is not to be limited to this arrangement since the basicprinciples of the present invention are applicable to a folding hatchcover or other door arrangement including one, two or more pairs ofcover sections or door panels movable relative to an edge of an openingand with the sections or panels of each pair hingedly in-terconnected.

The invention further includes an arrangement Where one, two or morepairs of sections or panels can move to open position relative toopposite edges of an opening.

The particular illustrated embodiment of `the present invention includesfour cover sections arranged in pairs with the sections 1 and 2 of onepair being interconnected by rhinge means constituted by a series ofhinges 3 and section 1 of the pair being connected -to hinge meansconstituted by a series of lhinges 4 located exteriorly of the edgecoaming or in other words, eXteriorly of the edge of the opening. Eachof the hin-ge means includes a depending hinge arm 3 mounted between apair of depending -hinge arms 3" with `a pintle connecting therespective arms. This arrangement is clearly shown in FIGURES 4 and 5.As is known in the hatch cover art, `the hinges depend beneath thesections so that section 2 will raise and roll toward the edge of thehatch openings while section 1 raises whereby the cover sectionsjack-knife or fold together. Hatch cover sections 5 and 6 are hingedlyinterconnected by hinge means constituted by a series ott hinges 7similar in structure and function to the hinges 3 and cover section 6 ishingedly mounted ex-teriorly of the coaming or hatch opening by hingemeans including a series of hinges 8 similar to `the hinges 4. Thehinges 4 and 8 thus constitute the main hinges and for each hingeinclude a pair of depending hinge arms, for example, 8" which aremounted between fixed upright hinge arms supported on a channel memberor other means rigidly connected to the respective outer edges of thecoaming. Pintle means secure the hinge arms together. The details ofstructure of the hinge means 3 and 4 and 7 and 8 can vary in accordancewith practices well known in the art so long as the hinge means aresutiiciently strong and durable.

To support the cover sections during the opening and closing movementsthereof, a pair of wheels 9 are carried adjacent the outer edge ofsection 2 and a pair of wheels 10 are mounted adjacent the outer edge ofcover section 5. These wheels, as shown in the drawings, are mounted bya suitable bracket means secured to the side edges of the respectivecover sections. The Wheels roll along a track denoted at 11 whichextends along the opposite side edges of the hatch opening. This trackis comprised by a suitable channel iron welded or otherwise xed to eachside of the coaming.

' In order that the hatch cover may be Water-tight, gasket means areprovided in association with each cover section. Examples of such gasketmeans are clearly disclosed and illustrated in prior filed applicationsin the name of Gustave Stransky, Ser. Nos. 336,502, filed Feb. 12, 1953,now U.S. Patent No. 2,869,501, and 339,303, filed Feb. 27, 1953, nowU.S. Patent No. 2,869,502. As is shown in these applications, peripheralgaskets that are compressible are mounted inwardly lof the side edges ofeach cover section that overlie the coaming, and which gaskets seat onthe seating surface provided at the top of the coaming. Transversegaskets extend between the adjacent edges of the cover sections thatoverlie the hinge means interconnecting the same in pairs and a centerjoint seal is provided between the adjacent edges of sections 2 and 5.As explained in the above referenced two applications and as well knownin the art, the weight of the cover sections and the application ofdogging means (denoted in the drawings by the letter D) in batteningdown or tightening the hatch covers compresses the gaskets againstcomplementary sealing surfaces on the coaming and on the facingtransverse edge of a cover Section that does not have a gasket stripthereon to provide an adequate water-tight seal. In order to permitdogging-or compression of the gaskets, tracks 11 are cut away as at 12and suitable jacking means shown diagrammatically at 13 and 14 aredisposed beneath the wheels 9 and 10. This arrangement is such that whenthe cover sections unfold and roll to closed position the wheels enterthe openings 12 to permit proper sealing. In opening the covers, thejacking means are actuated to lift .the wheels and thus cover sections 2and 5 vertically to break the seal between the gasket means and thecoaming. The upward movement of the cover sections 2 and 5 will alsobreak the seals between sections 1 and 4 and the coaming and the sealsbetween adjacent sections whereby the covers may be expeditiouslyunfolded. It is of course understood that prior to opening the coversthe dogging means are unfastened and any center joint dogs on the top ofthe hatch cover that cooperates between cover sections 2 and 5 havefurther been unfastened.

Lifting pads shown diagrammatically in the drawings are embodied on thetop of each of sections 1 and 6. However, opening and closing of thecovers by the conventional means, such as utilizing Winches, is timeconsuming and consistent with the objects of the present invention poweroperating means are associated with each pair of cover sections. Asshown in the drawings, the power operating means for each pair ofsections includes one or more iluid motors for each pair of sections. Asa specific example, three motors each including a hydraulic cylinder 15are associated with cover sections 1 and 6. Each cylinder 15 ispivotally mounted as at 26 to a bracket means 16 that depends frombeneath the cover sections 1 and 6. The brackets are, as shown in FIGURE4, for the illustrated embodiment, located adjacent the edge of thecoaming with respect to which cover sections 1 and 6 are hingedlymounted. A piston is movable in each cylinder 15 and includes a pistonrod 16. Each piston rod 16 is pivotally mounted to a linkage assemblythat is embodied with the pairs of cover sections 1 and 2 and 5 and 6.The linkage assembly for each Huid motor includes a pair of linkmem-bers 17 pivotally mounted at 18 on brackets 19 mounted at the lowerinner edge of cover sections 2 and 5 respectively. To the adjacent edgeof cover sections 1 and 6 a pair of link members 20 are pivotallymounted on brackets 22. The pair of links 20 are pivotally `connected tothe link members 17 by pintles 23. As shown in FIGURE 4, the linkmembers 17 are double armed and angle shaped and the pintles 23 aremounted between the opposite ends of the arms With the piston rods 16being Clevis mounted at 36 to the free ends `of the link members 17.Fluid conduits 24 and 25 communicate with each cylinder 15 and whichconduits pass through openings provided in transverse webs of the coversections 1 and 6 and through openings in the side edges of the sectionsto a suitable controllable source of fluid under pressure. Any openingsin the exterior side edges of the cover sections are of course providedwith suitable seals, not shown, so that the sections are water-tight.

As clearly indicated in FIGURE 4, when fluid under pressure is suppliedto each cylinder 15 through conduits 24 the piston is retracted and thepiston rod 16 pulls the lower end of link members 17 to the left. Sincethe wheels 9 are supported by the rail 11 which of course includes thesection embodied with the jacking means 13, the cover sections 1 and 2start to move upwardly while folding toward each other about the pintlesof hinges 3. Continued movement of the piston rod 16 interiorly of thecylinder 15 moves sections 1 and 2 through the various positions showndiagrammatically in FIGURE 4 until section 1 has swung about hinges 4 toreach the vertical position and section 2 has folded toward section 1until it is vertical. With this folding movement the top plate of coversection 2 is at the inner edge of the hatch opening. The movement of thepistons relative to their cylinders thus will jack-knife each pair ofcover sections together and stand them on edge at the end edge of thehatch opening. Suitable latching means, not shown, are incorporated forattachment with the cover sections to hold them in their open uprightposition. The latching means may be automatic or manually operated.

The pair of cover sections 5 and 6 of course operate in the same manneras sections 1 and 2 and can be moved simultaneously with the movement ofsections 1 and 2 or independently thereof. To close the cover sections,fluid is admitted through conduits 25 at the opposite end of eachcylinder 15 and the reverse movements of the linkage unfolds sections 2and 5 relative to sections 1 and 6 respectively and lowers the coversections to closed position at which time the wheels 9 and 10 enter theopenings 12 in the tracks 11 and the cover sections are in sealedrelation with the coaming and with each other, after which the doggingmeans are fastened to securely tighten the mem-bers.

As clearly indicated in FIGURE 4, the pivotal connections of linkmembers 17 to the end 19 of cover section 2 and the pivotal connectionof link members 20 to the end 20' of cover section 1 are such that thepintles or axes at 18 and 21 respectively lie in the same horizontalplane when the covers are closed. The pintles of the hinges 3, thepivotal connection at 23 where the link members are interconnected andthe connection at 36 connecting link members 17 to piston rod 16 lie inthe same vertical plane when the covers are closed and open. In theparticular example shown, the pivot axis or the pintles of hinges 3 areall in alignment with each other and in alignment with the axis of alltheconnections at 23. This is a very ellicacious but a non-limitativelinkage arrangement. Similar structural arrangement is of courseembodied between the cover sections 5 and 6.

It is further to be pointed out that as the piston rods 16 apply forceto the linkage mechanism to move the end 19 of cover section 2 upwardlywith the wheels 9 constituting a moving fulcrum point, the cover section1 moves about hinges 4 and the linkage pushes the end 20" of coversection 1 upwardly. This movement in combination with the pivotalmovement of the cylinder 15 at 26 translates the cover sections frornthe horizontal closed position to a vertical folded open position.Covers sections 5 and 6 operate in the same fashion.

The control for the uid motors is such that all motors associated witheach pair of cover sections `are operated simultaneously in the selecteddirection. The source of fluid under pressure can be a motor pumpcombination mounted in the vicinity of the hatch opening or any othersuitable source of supply can be utilized. As an example, some vesselsuse hydraulically actuated deck winches Aor other hydraulically operatedmachinery and. the, fluid circuits to the various motors can beconnected to the source of duid under pressure for such equipment.

It is desired to point out, however, that since normal ship buildingpractices embody a plurality of hatches, the control of the fluid motorsfor the hatch covers can be incorporated in a common source of fluidunder pressure for all hatches or in groups of hatches or doors.Furthermore, in connection with the arrangement illustrated, it is to bepointed out that the control of the lluid motors is such that both pairsof covers or doors can be opened simultaneously if desired, or only oneor the other pair can be opened, thus the pairs are -operableindependently and together. An exempliiication of such lan arrangementwould include a source of uid under pressure, a distributing chamber anda control valve movable between two operating positions in each of whichthe same end of all cylinders associated with one pair of sections is incommunication with the distributing chamber whereby all the pistons 16lmove in one di-rection. In another position of this control valve, theopposite end of each cylinder is in communication with uid underpressure. A second and similar control valve controls the fluid supplyto the respective opposite ends of the cylinders associated with theother pair of sections. It follows therefore that either pair ofsections can be actuated independently or by simultaneously .actuatingthe two cont-rol valves, both pairs of sections are actuatedsimultaneously.

The valve can be operated by hand levers or be of the electro-magnetictype and can incorporate pressure relief arrangements in the event ofexcessive pressure and where hand operated, the handles can be biased toan intermediate position whereby when the covers have reached eitheropen or closed positions and the operator lets go of the handle theAvalve moves to the intermediate position so that fluid under pressureis no .longer being forced to the respective cylinders. Suitablelatching means as mentioned previously are incorporated for connectionwith the cover sections to hold them in their open upright position.

It is further to be pointed out that this invention is not to be limitedto opening cover or door sections which in closed position are in ahorizontal plane, since sections movable about ver-tical axes can beoperated in accordance with the principle of this invention so long assuitable guiding means or slides, for example, roller means and guidesare provided at the outer end of the outermost section of the pair andwhich guides must extend along the line that the rollers move.

In connection with the operation of the `covers or doors, it is to beunderstood that the location of the conduits leading to the oppositeends of the cylinders will vary in accordance with the specificrequirements, insofar as the vessel specifications require a particulararrangement of coaming or cover structure. Usually the Huid conduitswill be led through openings in the side of the cover adjacent hinges 4and 8. These openings will be provided with suitable gaskets.

The particular structural and positional arrangement of the linkage.illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5 is a non limitative example. Forexample, my invention is also applicable to a system where the outer endof the piston applies force to a link mechanism comprised by one or morelinks pivoted to each cover or door section and pivotally connectedtogether. The length, shape and relative angle of the links and theposition of .attachment of the piston relative thereto being determinedby sound engineering practice to secure maximum leverage as regards thepower potential of the uid motors involved, that is, the .power requiredto lift the particular weight in a certain time.

Therefore, from a basic standpoint, this invention incorporates inaddition to the hinge means `connecting the outer section of each pairfor movement relative to the opening and the hinge means connecting thet-wo sections together `for folding movement, a linkage system thatincludes one or more link members pivotally connected 6 to the innerside edge of the outer section and one or more linkmembers pivotallyconnected to the adjacent edge of the other section, means pivotallyconnecting the link members together and means pivotally connecting areciprocable force applying means to the interconnected link means.

The reciprocable force applying means is to be pivotally mounted.

The invention is not to be limited to an arrangement in which thecylinder is pivotally mounted to the cover section of a pair and thepiston thereof is pivotally connected to the linkage assembly since thereverse arrangement .is possible, that is, where the cylinder ispivotally mounted to the linkage and the piston pivotally mounted to thecover section.

Furthermore, while the invention is particularly directed to a iiuidoperated mechanism, the linkage assembly is operable independently ofthe particular force applying means vcoupled therewith. As an example,an electrically operated screw jack can be pivotally mounted to thecover section and the linkage assembly respectively with the axiallymoving force applying rod of the jack pivotally mounted to the linkageIassembly or cover section respectively.

As previously mentioned, the invention is not to be limited to operatingfolded doors or the like -that are always in a horizontal plane whenclosed, and other modications are comprehended in which the mounting anddisposition of the force applying means relative to the cover sectionscan be varied in accordance with speciiic requirements. Thus if cover ordoor sections have sufficient dept-h where fluid motors are used, thesame can be housed within the cover sections rather than mounted ondepending brackets.

It is to 'be further understood that structural modifications,eliminations and additions may be resorted to so long as they do notdepart from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a folding hatch cover arrangement for vessels, a coaming meanssurrounding a hatch opening, a pair of adjacent cover sections, hingemeans mounting one end of one section relative to an edge of t-heopening, hinge means connecting the opposite end of said one section tothe adjacent end of the other section, roller means carried `at theremote end -of said 'other section, guide means constraining the rollermeans and thus the remote end of said other section for movement towardand awayy from said edge of the opening, link means pivotally connectedto the said opposite end of `said one section, additional link meanspivotally connected to the said adjacent end of of the said 'othersection, pivot means interconnecting the link means with the additionallink means, and reciprocable force applying means pivotally connected tosaid one section and to said interconnected link means for selectivemovement in opposite directions toward and away from said edge of theopening whereby responsive to movement of said force applying means andsaid link means, said sections move between a hatch opening and a hatchclosing position.

2. A hatch cover arrangement as claimed in claim 1 in which said firstmentioned link means are straight, said additional link means beingdouble armed and angle shaped, and the pivot means interconnecting thefirst mentioned link means with the additional link means being locatedintermediate the arms of the double armed link means.

3. In a folding hatch cover arrangement for vessels, a pair of adjacentcover sections, hinge means mounting one end of one section relative toan edge of the opening, hinge arm means depending beneath the oppositeend of said one section, cooperative hinge arm means depending beneaththe adjacent end of the other section, pintle means connecting the hingerarms beneath the meeting line of said sections, roller means carried bythe remote end of the other section, guide means containing the rollermeans and thus the remote end of the other section for movement towardand away from said edge of the opening, link means pivotally connectedat one end to said opposite edge of said one section, bell crank levermeans pivotally connected at one end to the said adjacent end of saidother section at the level of the pivotal connection of the link meanswith the said one section, means pivotally connecting the other end ofthe link means with the bell crank lever means intermediate the endsthereof 4and at a level with the said pintle means when the sections areclosed, the -other end of the bell crank lever means depending `beneathsaid pintle means, fluid actuated means comprising a cylinder means andassociated piston means, means pivotally connecting one of said cylinderand piston means to and Ibeneath said one section adjacent said edge ofthe opening and means pivotally connecting the other of said cylinderand piston means to the other end of said -bell crank lever means, withthe cylinder and piston means -being extended when the cover sectionsare closed whereby retraction of said cylinder Iand piston means foldsthe sections about said pintles and moves them to open position andextension of said cylinder and piston means unfolds the sections andmoves the same to closed position.

4. In a folding marine hatch cover of the type having a pair of sectionswith one edge portion of the first section hinged at the side of ahorizontally disposed opening and 4the opposite edge portion of thesecond section guided in the plane of the opening, an articulatinglinkage connecting the adjacent intermediate edge portions of said first:and second sections and positioned relative thereto so as to bedisposed intermediate said sections when the same are disposed in foldedrelationship, comprising at least one hinged connection between saidsections having the pintle thereof disposed beneath the upper surface ofsaid sections, at least one crank member having one end pivotallyconnected to the underside of the second section adjacent theintermediate edge thereof and the other end thereof dependent therefromfor engagement by actuating means, and at least one link member havingone end pivotally connected to said crank member at a locationintermediate its ends and in substantial axial alignment with the pintleof said -hinged connection and the other end pivotally connected to theunderside of the first section adjacent the intermediate edge thereof.

5. In a closure operating system for folding closures, a pair ofadjacent panels, first hinge means pivotally mounting one edge of thefirst of said panels relative to an edge of the opening, second hingemeans connecting the opposite edge of -said first panel to the adjacentedge of the second panel, means guiding the opposite edge of said secondpanel `for movement toward and away lfrom said edge of the opening,first and second linkage means, linkage pivot means, said first linkagemeans being pivotally connected t-o said opposite edge of said firstpanel, -said second linkage means being pivotally connected to saidadjacent edge of said second panel, said first and second linkage means|being pivotally connected to each other by said linkage pivot means,and reciprocable force lapplying means pivotally connected to said firstpanel and to said interconnected linkage means for selective movementtoward and away from said edge of the opening to open and lclose thepanels, whereby responsive to movement of said `force applying meansthrough said linkage means said panels move relative to one another andsaid first panel pivots relative to said opening.

6. The closure system of claim 5 in which said force applying meanscomprises cylinder means and piston means movable therein.

7. The -system as claimed in claim 6 in which said cylinder means ispivotally connected to said first panel.

8. The system as claimed in claim 5 in which said rst linkage meanscomprises a straight link means, said second link means comprises adouble Varmed link means, one arm of said sec-ond double armed linkmeans lbeing pivotally connected to said adjacent edge of said secondpanel, said first and second link means are pivotally connected at apoint intermediate the arms of said second link means, and said forceapplying means is pivotally connected to the end of the other arm ofsaid double armed link means.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8 yin which the axes of `said secondhinge means, said linkage pivot means, fand the pivotal connectionIbetween the force applying means and said -other arm lie in the sameplane when -said panels are in closed relation. j

10. The system as claimed -in claim 5 in which said :force applyingmeans comprises a cylinder member and a piston member slidable therein,said cylinder member being pivotally connected to the underside of saidrst panel and said piston member being pivotally connected to saidinterconnected linkage means, said panels lbeing horizontal when inclosed relation, each of said panels comprising side edges and a top,and each of said rst rand second linkage means having a length such asto depend ibeneath said panels when the same are in closed relation.

11. A folding hatch cover arrangement for vessels comprising la coamingmeans surrounding a hatch opening, a pair of adjacent cover sections,first hinge means pivotally mounting one end of a first of said sectionsrelative to an edge of said opening, second hinge means connecting theopposite end of said first section to the adjacent end of the secondsection, roller means carried at the remote end of said second section,guide means for the roller means permitting the remote end of saidsecond section to move toward and away from said edge of said opening,first link means pivotally connected to said opposite end of said firstsection, second link means, said second link means -being longer thansaid first link means `and having one end thereof pivotally connected tosaid adjacent end of said second section, linkage pivot meansinterconnecting said first link means with said second link means at apoint intermediate the ends of said second link means, and reciprocableforce apply-ing means pivotally connected to said first section and tothe other end of said second link means for selective movement inopposite directions toward land away from said edge of the opening,whereby responsive to movement of said force applying means and saidlink means said sections move between a hatch open anda hatch closedposition.

12. A folding hatch cover arrangement for vessels comprising a coamingmeans surrounding a hatch opening, a pair of ladjacent cover sections,first hinge means pivotally mounting one end of a first section relativeto an edge of said opening, second hinge means connecting the oppositeend of `said first section to the adjacent end of the second section,roller means carried at the remote end of said vsecond section, guidemeans constraining the roller means .and thus the remote end of saidsecond section for movement toward and away from said edge of saidopening, sealing means carried by said sections for sealing lbetween therespective cover sections and between the cover sections and the coamingmeans when the cover sections are closed, first link means pivotallyconnected to said opposite end of said first section, second link meanspivotally connected to the said adjacent end of the said second section,linkage pivot means interconnecting said first link means with saidsecond link means, and reciprocable force applying means pivotallyconnected to said first second and to said interconnected link means forselective movement in opposite directions t0- ward and away from saidedge of the opening, whereby responsive to movement of lsaid forceapplying means and said link means said sections move between a hatchopen and a hatch closed position.

13. A folding hatch cover arrangement as claimed in claim 12, whereinsaid force applying means comprises cylinder means and piston meansmovable within the cylinder means.

14. A hatch cover arrangement as claimed in claim 13 wherein saidcylinder means is pivotally connected to said first section.

15. -A hatch cover arrangement as claimed in claim 12, wherein saidfir-st link means comprises a straight link, said second link meanscomprises ya double armed link means, the first arm thereof beingpivotally connected to said adjacent edge of said Second panel and saidforce applying means being pivotally connected to the second armthereof, and said linkage pivot means interconnecting the rst link meanswith the double arm link means at a point intermediate th'e armsthereof.

16. A hatch cover arrangment as claimed in claim 15 wherein the axis ofsaid second hinge means and the axis of said linkage pivot means are inthe same vertical plane when said panels are in closed relation.

17. A hatch cover arrangement as claimed in claim 12 wherein said forceapplying means comprises a cylinder member and a piston member slidabletherein, said cylinder member being pivotally connected to said firstsection at la point located beneath the top thereof, said piston memberbeing pivotally connected to said interconnected link means, saidsections being horizontal when in closed relation and each of saidsections including side edges and a top, and said link means havinglengths such as to depend beneath adjacent side edges of adjacentsections.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,256,087 9/ 1941Hay 114-201 y 2,322,372 6/1943- Levy 160--188 2,491,261 12/1949 Greer etal. 160--158 2,595,248 5/ 1952 Greer et a1 60-51 2,656,810 10/1953Jernstrom 114-201 2,906,324 9/ 1959 Hannigan 160-188 FOREIGN PATENTS1,055,573 10/1953 France.

717,357 12/1941 Germany.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

20 HARRY L. REMINGTON, MILTON L. MARLAND,

GEORGE A. NINAS, JR., JOSEPH D. BEIN,

Examiners.

A. H. FARRELL, L. CHARLES, P. M. CAUN,

Assistant Examiners.

1. IN A FOLDING HATCH COVER ARRANGEMENT FOR VESSELS, A COAMING MEANSSURROUNDING A HATCH OPENING, A PAIR OF ADJACENT COVER SECTIONS, HINGEMEANS MOUNTING ONE END OF ONE SECTION RELATIVE TO AN EDGE OF THEOPENING, HINGE MEANS CONNECTING THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID ONE SECTION TOTHE ADJACENT END OF THE OTHER SECTION, ROLLER MEANS CARRIED AT THEREMOTE END OF SAID OTHER SECTION, GUIDE MEANS CONSTRAINING THE ROLLERMEANS AND THUS THE REMOTE END OF SAID OTHER SECTION FOR MOVEMENT TOWARDAND AWAY FROM SAID EDGE OF THE OPENING, LINK MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTEDTO THE SAID OPPOSITE END OF SAID ONE SECTION, ADDITIONAL LINK MEANSPIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE SAID ADJACENT END OF THE SAID OTHER SECTION,PIVOT MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE LINK MEANS WITH THE ADDITIONAL LINKMEANS, AND RECIPROCABLE FORCE APPLYING MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAIDONE SECTION AND TO SAID INTERCONNECTED LINK MEANS FOR SELECTIVE MOVEMENTIN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID EDGE OF THE OPENINGWHEREBY RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID FORCE APPLYING MEANS AND SAIDLINK MEANS, SAID SECTIONS MOVE BETWEEN A HATCH OPENING AND A HATCHCLOSING POSITION.